What could a new community at Wisloe be?
Our proposals are for a sustainable community set in the Gloucestershire countryside between the M5 and A38 to the east of Slimbridge.
Our vision is to create a sustainable community at Wisloe with the right homes and facilities, that meet the local need for housing and provide opportunities for people.
More information is available in our find out more section.
Who is progressing the new community at Wisloe?
Gloucestershire County Council and The Ernest Cook Trust own the land which together comprises the area for the new community at Wisloe. They are working with a professional team of experts to help them create plans in partnership with the community.
The Ernest Cook Trust: The Ernest Cook Trust is an educational charity helping children, young people and their communities nurture a lifelong journey of learning, appreciation and respect for the countryside.
The Trust owns and cares for more than 24,000 acres of land across the UK. It is uniquely placed to deliver the sustainable development of a vibrant community here at Wisloe, ensuring a legacy for future generations to enjoy.Gloucestershire County Council: Gloucestershire County Council holds an important role in supporting sustainable growth in the county. This means taking a proactive approach, planning for the future to improve the quality of life for Gloucestershire’s communities.
Why are you proposing 1,500 homes at Wisloe?
A new community at Wisloe addresses the identified need for new homes in the Stroud district, part of regional and national housing targets overseen by Stroud District Council.
How does the new community relate to Stroud District Council's Local Plan?
Any proposal to develop a new community must be supported by the local authority and coordinated with other developments in the area. We are working with local partners to meet Stroud District Council’s Local Plan ambitions.
Stroud’s local plan is currently progressing through an examination in public overseen by government-appointed planning experts. The project team has collaborated fully with this process throughout, including for a couple of days when Wisloe was discussed at the examination.
Although we don’t know how long this process will take, the project team continues to engage with partners involved while it continues.
Supporting the community
What about education provision?
Our masterplan for Wisloe includes provision of a new primary school and nursery. These facilities will be integrated within the new neighbourhood to support a sustainable and healthy lifestyle for residents, by providing educational opportunities for children in the area.
Will you look at building a new secondary school?
There are no plans to build a new secondary school in the masterplan for a new community at Wisloe.
All the additional people will require places to work and shop. What are the plans for this?
We want to create a community. As well as a village shop and a new primary school we are planning a new nursery, community facilities, green spaces and a café.
There will also be spaces for new businesses and new employment opportunities.
It’s important to have homes for older people, as well as starter homes and housing for young families.
Yes, we agree, and our masterplan reflects this. Although the exact mix of housing isn’t determined at this stage, we have set out in our Design Code that at least 67% of homes should be accessible and adaptable. There is also potential to provide specialist accommodation for older people in one of the village centres at Lighten Brook.
The proposed development area is rich in flora and fauna. How will this be protected?
We want to create a neighbourhood of green spaces for the enjoyment of the community that connects with the wider landscape and enhances the local environment. As our plans become more detailed we will work with the community and other stakeholders to create a development that enhances biodiversity.
Our draft design code contains more detail about the wide range of measures proposed to protect and enhance nature. You can find out more here.
What about green space and playing fields?
Our masterplan shows how this community would be laid out around three walkable neighbourhoods – each set within a landscape of integrated green spaces and wetland areas that connect to the surrounding area.
This is intended to enhance biodiversity and provide a buffer to surrounding settlements. In total, around 32 ha of the site will be green space.
This will help to ensure that green space is provided within a five-minute walk of every home or workplace at Wisloe.
It’s important that you look at providing a local health (NHS) centre.
We agree that these are important and positive assets for the community. Partners have experience of working with the NHS to provide these where they are needed and there is an interested partner.
We are engaging relevant NHS bodies who are responsible for providing them, to ensure they are aware of the project and consider this possibility. Any further details would be proposed as part of the planning process.
It’s said that there are archaeological findings in the area. Will you consider these?
Yes, and we will do whatever is needed by working with the appropriate authorities. Our team recently started survey work on the Wisloe site to better understand this. Our recent news story explains this. We will provide further updates on the website as this work progresses over the coming months.
Addressing challenges
What about site constraints?
As with any site there are challenges to overcome, including motorway noise, surface water drainage and a gas pipe that runs through part of the land. Our masterplan addresses these constraints – for example by providing a landscape buffer to the motorway and ponds that store surface water run-off and provide space for wildlife.
Early technical work has left us confident that the gas pipe can be diverted and we have published the feasibility study exploring potential route options for diversion alongside the masterplan on our website. We have also explored other options to ensure a sustainable development is still possible should the pipeline need to remain where it is.
You can read more about important topics on our masterplan pages.
How would you improve the road system to accommodate extra vehicles?
We have explored how people travel as part of a series of summaries published at the same time as the masterplan report. You can read these here.
Alongside this, the way we live, work and travel is rapidly changing. There is a growing consensus that we must travel more sustainably and make transport greener. This is why Wisloe’s masterplan prioritises walking, cycling and public transport.
A new community at Wisloe will focus around three walkable neighbourhoods and space for walking and cycling, including a new walking and cycling bridge across the M5 to connect with Cam & Dursley Station which will help reduce car dependency. A new integrated bus route will also help.
Your thinking about traffic also needs to take account of what’s happening today.
We agree and take very seriously the challenges posed by additional traffic and car use that any future development brings. Our masterplan sets out various measures to address this. Whilst we appreciate that people will still need to use their car for some trips, these measures will provide alternatives to driving to encourage and support other more sustainable and healthy modes of travel.
At the same time, the way we travel, and work is changing. There is growing support for alternative modes of travel and more people in Stroud and elsewhere are working from home, which reduces journeys to work during the week. Recognising this, our masterplan prioritises walking, cycling and public transport.
Connected, reliable public transport is essential to addressing this challenge
We agree that public transport is key. We continue to work closely with Stroud District Council, Gloucestershire County Council in its role as highway authority and local transport providers to find solutions that work.
With Stroud District Council hoping to become Carbon Neutral, how can this development and the additional people / heating / vehicles / pollution be managed?
A new community at Wisloe can play a key role in helping Stroud District Council manage competing targets.
The Stroud 2030 Strategy sets out how the council will take action to rise to environmental challenges through the built environment, energy, natural environment, mobility, economy, waste, and community.
Land at Wisloe provides a unique opportunity to meet the need for new homes in line with the Stroud 2030 Strategy.
The planned development would enable existing and future residents to live more sustainably – with a series of eco-friendly measures being considered, including:
- Clean, renewable energy
- Green and blue spaces, creating new and varied wildlife habitats
- Connections to existing footpaths, bridleways and country lanes that create green links for walking, cycling and horse riding within the wider community
- Retaining and enhancing existing hedges, trees and other features that benefit wildlife
- Ditches and ponds that reduce flood risk but also create wetland areas for people and wildlife to enjoy
- Walkable neighbourhoods where people can access shops, jobs and community spaces without a car
- Improved public transport with better connections to Cam & Dursley railway station and improved bus services
Tackling climate change must be a priority for us all. We must also respond to the need for new homes by building the right types of homes in the right places. A new community at Wisloe is an opportunity to face these challenges in the right way.
Will a developer partner source materials locally to help Wisloe achieve zero carbon?
This is important, alongside other measures within the Design Code and masterplan which include energy/carbon reduction, improved connectivity and layout and green spaces to support healthy low-carbon lifestyles. Details on the materials will be determined as part of the planning process.
How is flood risk addressed?
We have set out a ‘Blue Infrastructure Strategy’ for Wisloe, which covers all aspects relating to drainage. Measures within this strategy includes ponds, lakes, streams rivers and storm water provision such as sustainable urban drainage systems (also known as SuDs).
The masterplan includes solutions to help ensure the drainage on site equals the existing 'greenfield runoff rates'. Permeable pavements, rain gardens – small depressions full of plants that can withstand being occasionally inundated with water - and tree pits will all store water and allow it to soak into the ground. These features will be fully integrated into the design to provide a natural and attractive solution.
New ponds can also be established to hold water but also provide a home for wildlife and plants and become an attractive part of the landscape.
How would you work around the gas main?
We commissioned technical work which confirms it is possible to reroute this pipe and presents three different options. The preferred option is to run the pipe along the east of the site beside the M5, then run along the northern boundary.
This study is available on our website. More detailed information will be shared as Wisloe progresses through the planning process.
Responding to feedback
Have we looked at Cam and Slimbridge neighbourhood plans?
Yes, and we are encouraged by the principles set out in both plans which are rooted in strong community planning.
We engaged in Slimbridge Parish Council’s recent consultation on its draft neighbourhood plan during 2023.
We welcome the principles outlined in the respective plans and will continue to work to ensure that Wisloe pays due regard to these.
What feedback did you receive during your spring 2022 consultation?
Consultation feedback showed that improved pedestrian and cycle links to Wisloe are a key priority for local people, as are additional facilities such as a shop, café or allotments. Sustainability and energy efficiency were also high priorities, particularly solar panels and car charging points.
Local people were also keen to ensure the enhancement of the natural elements of the site, including wetland spaces, natural play areas, enhanced natural habitats and woodlands.
Consultees responded positively to architectural styles which mirrored the vernacular brick of Slimbridge and Cambridge, both traditional and larger windowed modern brick buildings. Parking, transport links and access to shared local services were also high priorities.
A report from our spring 2022 Wisloe consultation can be downloaded here.
How can I get involved?
We are committed to continuing to ongoing communication with local people as we develop our thinking for Wisloe. There will be many opportunities for anyone who is interested to be involved, and we will publicise these opportunities on this website.
Anyone who wishes to contact the team can do so on this website, by email at wisloe@distinctivecomms.co.uk or by calling 0330 107 0535.